Policy Intern, Global Policy Development
About The Position
Airbnb was born in 2007 when two hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to over 5 million hosts who have welcomed over 2 billion guest arrivals in almost every country across the globe. Every day, hosts offer unique stays and experiences that make it possible for guests to connect with communities in a more authentic way. The community you will join: Airbnb is seeking a Policy Intern to join the Global Policy Development team for the 2026 Summer Intern Program . The Airbnb Public Policy team is dedicated to promoting the economic opportunity that short-term rentals create for hosts and communities, while providing a cost-effective, flexible way to travel for guests around the world. The Policy Team works collaboratively with government and industry stakeholders to develop and implement fair and sustainable regulations for the short-term rental sector. The team embodies Airbnb’s innovative spirit, finding creative solutions to policy challenges and building impactful partnerships to support the company's mission. The Policy Central team supports Regional Policy Teams through projects and processes to make their work more scalable, consistent and strategic. Part of this effort is to design strategies that are tactically deployed by the regional policy teams. In addition, Policy Central is responsible for knowledge management and other systemic organization that makes our collective work more efficient and effective. Lastly, Policy Central has significant cross-functional responsibilities, including integrating Policy expertise into trust/customer support work, as well as offering guidance to the business as it expands into new areas. The difference you will make: As an intern, you’ll be integrated into a team where you’ll contribute to challenging projects. Your manager, team, and our incredible employee community will strive to be superhosts to you during the summer. We provide the support, mentorship, fun, and real world experience needed to accelerate your learning and make a real impact on our product, as Airbnb revolutionizes connection, belonging, and travel. In this internship, you will have the chance to contribute to a variety of exciting projects, for both the central strategic team, as well as for Regional Policy Teams working in the field around the world. Additionally, you have the opportunity to play a vital role in positioning Airbnb as a thought leader in the short-term rental, travel, and tourism sectors. This will involve working with our data science team to identify potential partnerships with think tanks, organizations, and institutions that align with our mission and goals. Your insights will help shape our strategic approach and enhance our positioning in the industry. You’ll also have the chance to not only learn about how Airbnb is leveraging AI, but participate in developing/refining AI tools used by the Policy team to engage at scale. Please note the exact internship project is subject to change - these are examples of the type of projects you can expect to work on.
Requirements
- This opportunity is for first-year Master students (preferred) and third-year Bachelor students graduating between December 2026 - June 2027 with the following skills and background:
- Undergraduate major or graduate program in Public Policy, Public Administration, Political Science, International Relations, Urban Studies, or equivalent
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, detail-oriented and organized
- Exceptional organizational abilities to manage multiple tasks efficiently and meet deadlines
- Strong research skills for effective information comprehension and synthesis
- Demonstrate strategic thinking to contribute innovative ideas and solutions
- Passion for the Airbnb mission; experience with the platform is a plus!
- Work authorization for employment in the United States is required (CPT/OPT is accepted) - visa sponsorship is unavailable
Nice To Haves
- Previous experience in public relations, political analysis, or government relations
- Familiarity with Tableau and Superset for data visualization
Responsibilities
- Own and complete a capstone project from beginning to end
- Collaborate with multiple team members to achieve project milestones
- Communicate with stakeholders across different teams to provide project updates
- Seek and provide feedback throughout the internship
- Actively participate in and contribute to the Public Policy team and broader Airbnb community
Benefits
- This role may also be eligible for benefits and Employee Travel Credits.
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What This Job Offers
Career Level
Intern
